The Hobbit,
written by the J.R.R. Tolkien, is the prequel to the epic fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit follows the protagonist Bilbo
Baggins, who leaves his comfortable life in the Shire behind and into a journey
of a world filled with adventure and peril. Bilbo is accompanied by the extremely
powerful wizard, Gandalf, and the company of treasure-loving dwarves. Thorin,
the leader among the dwarves, seeks to not only reclaim his lost treasure, but
his kingdom, which has long since been lost to Smaug the dragon…
The novel reflects many elements of the classic journey of
the hero: while Bilbo Baggins is well into his adulthood, he holds the physical
qualities characteristic of a child. Bilbo is also content with his quaint and
peaceful lifestyle in the Shire. However, Gandalf sets him on a path to an
adventure that will forever change Bilbo’s life. In the course of the book,
Bilbo follows archetypes and elements of what is typically seen in the hero’s
journey. The supernatural aid throughout Bilbo’s story is Gandalf, who helps
him and the dwarves at the most dire of times. The magic flight includes the
eagles, who help Bilbo when they are nearly trapped by the goblins and in the
battle of the five armies.
However, there are also aspects of The Hobbit that do not fit for Bilbo Baggins’ journey. This
includes the master of the two worlds. Bilbo is not necessarily a strong
individual; it is his wits and cleverness that help him through many events,
and because of his stature. Bilbo never really becomes a god-like figure
throughout the novel either. He is a rather ordinary individual. Perhaps most admirably
of all is while Bilbo matures in The
Hobbit, by the end of the book his personality is the same as it has always
been. The strife he has faced has not changed him for good.
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